Photo: Weald Oil Watch
Last updated: 18/10/2022
Key facts
Address: Wood Barn Farm, Adversane Lane, Broadford Bridge, Billingshurst RH14 9EB
Operator: UK Oil and Gas plc
Planning:
- Site operations: WSCC/052/12/WC and WSCC/029/17/WC (amendment of condition 2 of WSCC/052/12/WC)
- Extension of site operations to 31 March 2020 WSCC/032/18/WC
- Security fencing, cabins and gates: WSCC/032/17/WC and WSCC/037/14/WC
Environmental permits: Mining waste permit EPR/AB3806CG/V002 (modified 11 January 2017). Application EPR/WP3335YJ/A001 for handling crude oil permit
Licence: PEDL234
Status: Permission extended to March 2022 but site currently suspended
Timeline
18 May 2020
West Sussex County Council votes 7-2 with one abstention in favour of an extra two years at the site, delaying restoration until 2024. Details
9 May 2022
Planners back fourth extension at dormant Broadford Bridge oil site. Details
9 March 2022
UKOG seeks permission for another two years at Broadford Bridge – the fourth extension. Details
7 July 2020
West Sussex County Council votes 10-1 in favour of UKOG’s application for two more years at Broadford Bridge. Details
6 July 2020
Officials urged to rethink backing for Broadford Bridge planning extension. Details
28 April 2020
Broadford Bridge planning decision delayed again. Details
17 March 2020
Broadford Bridge decision delayed by coronavirus. Details
16 March 2020
Planners back two more years at Broadford Bridge. Details
30 January 2020
Consultation deadline for comments on extension of planning permission. Details
6 January 2020
Third time extension sought to planning permission. Details
15 March 2019
UKOG accounts say the company plans to return to Broadford Bridge Kimmeridge oil discover to drill and test a new Kimmeridge sidetrack. Details
11 September 2018
West Sussex County Council’s planning committee votes by eight to two to extend permission for another 18 months to 31 March 2020. Details
1 September 2018
Planning officers recommend approval of application to extend permission for 18 months. Details
22 June 2018
Planning application submitted to West Sussex County Council to extend permission until March 2020. Details and link to application
14 June 2018
Kimmeridge Oil & Gas Ltd gives notice that it will seek to extend planning permissions at Broadford Bridge
31 May 2018
UKOG granted five years for appraisal of PEDL234, the Broadford Bridge licence and says a further sidetrack “remains very much on the cards”
29 March 2018
UKOG suspends Broadford Bridge. Details
21 March 2018
UKOG announces well testing has stopped at Broadford Bridge. Details
15 March 2018
Campaigners announce they will challenge the UKOG injunction over sites including Broadford bridge. Details
6 March 2018
UKOG announces the Oil and Gas Authority has extended permission for flow testing until the end of March 2018. Details
1 March 2018
UKOG applies for an injunction over sites including Broadford Bridge. Details
20 February 2018
Shares in UKOG drop more than 35%, wiping more than £50m off the company’s market capitalisation, on news that sections of the well and surrounding formation could have been damaged. Details
16 February 2018
UKOG refutes comments made by Angus Energy managing director that there were “operational issues with the well” at Broadford Bridge. Details
15 February 2018
Angus Energy managing director, Paul Vonk, says problems at Broadford Bridge are “operational issues” not formation problems. Details
27 December 2017
UKOG announces to shareholders that a section of the reservoir at Broadford Bridge is unproductive because of low permeability. The company also announces it has extended consent from the OGA for flow testing until 28 February 2018. Details
24 December 2017
Residents offer to help UKOG restore Broadford Bridge after flow testing exceeds the estimated Christmas deadline. Details
15 November 2017
UKOG announces £10m loan to fund Weald oil exploration. Details
16 October 2017
UKOG announces flow testing will continue until mid December. Details
2 November 2017
Council officers investigate Sunday working complaints at Broadford Bridge. Details
12 October 2017
Three environmental campaigners who blocked the entrance of the Broadford Bridge oil exploration site in West Sussex were found guilty this afternoon under trades union legislation. But one of them who took part in a similar protest a few weeks later was acquitted of the same offence. Details
11 October 2017
West Sussex County Council approves, under officer delegated powers, permission to retain security fencing, gates and cabins until 30 September 2018. Link to decision document
10 October 2017
UKOG announces cement bond problems at Broadford Bridge. Details
4 October 2017
Two women campaigners who locked themselves together outside the Broadford Bridge site are found guilty under trades union legislation. Details
30 September 2017
Security fencing, cabins and gates to be removed under current planning conditions
21 September 2017
Deadline for comments on planning application to extend consent for security fencing, cabins and gates for a further 12 months (WSCC/032/17/WC)
12 September 2017
West Sussex County Council unanimously approves extension of one year to planning application to allow flow testing. Details and Who said what at planning meeting
7 September 2017
Rig leaves Broadford Bridge for Lidsey. Details
6 September 2017
UKOG announces flow testing is now underway. Details
23 August 2017
Application (WSCC/032/17/WC) registered by West Sussex County Council for extending use of security fencing, cabins and gates.
10 August 2017
UKOG confirms that it drilled a sidetrack well. Details
Closing date for planning application WSCC/029/17/WC to extend current consent for operations one year
9 August 2017
Evidence shows UKOG drilled a mechanical sidetrack to avoid problems in the main wellbore. Details
Actors Sue Jameson and James Bolam deliver objections to extension of planning permission. Details
31 July 2017
UKOG confirms it has all the permissions it needs for flow testing at Broadford Bridge. Details
14 July 2017
UKOG announces the Oil and Gas Authority has granted final approval for extended flow testing. Details
10 July 2017
UKOG announces “highly positive ground-breaking results” from coring at Broadford Bridge well. Residents call for environmental permit to be rescinded, or independent monitoring to be carried out at the site. Details
Photo: Broadford Bridge Action Group
7 July 2017
Environment Agency grants permit to flow test the well. Details
26 June 2017
UKOG announces successful recovery of rock core. Company statement and DrillOrDrop report
30 June 2017
UKOG announces it is to seek 1 year extension of planning permission. Details
25 June 2017
120+ people take part in public meeting (not attended by UKOG) in nearby West Chiltington. Details and link to video produced by Broadford Bridge Action Group and played at the end of the meeting.
23 June 2017
UKOG announces oil seepage in well. Company statement
14 June 2017
UKOG site visit for local journalists. DrillOrDrop report
12 June 2017
Two-person lock-on protest. Details
7 June 2017
UKOG announces that 13 3/8 inch steel casing set and cemented successfully over the 855ft Weald Clay section of the Broadford Bridge well. Drilling the 12 1/4 diameter hole began on 5 June 2017, the company said. Details
5 June 2017
Three arrested in first lock-on protest outside the site. Details
2 June 2017
Opponents of drilling accusing Sussex officers of “unpredictable policing” Details
31 May 2017
UKOG threatens campaign group with legal action over Broadford Bridge newsletter. Details
29 May 2017
UKOG announces drilling began. Details and UKOG statement to investors
26 Nat 2017
Angry residents call for immediate halt to UKOG oil drilling plans. Details
25 May 2017
Drilling rig installed. Details and UKOG statement to investors. First protester arrested. Details
19 April 2017
Responses to the permit consultation show divisions over UKOG’s competence. Supporters describe the company as “very responsible”. Objectors point to mistakes in the application. Details
13 April 2017
Closing date for comments on consultation on Environment Agency permit.
Week beginning 20 March 2017
Work underway on site at Broadford Bridge in preparation for drilling. Details
16 March 2017
Consultation opens on environmental permit application. Link to consultation page
9 March 2017
Broadford Bridge well needs new planning application, says campaign Group. Details
20 February 2017
Kimmeridge Oil & Gas Ltd applies to the Environment Agency for a standard rules permit for storage and handling of crude oil arising from onshore oil and gas exploration and production activities. Details and DrillOrDrop report
4 January 2017
West Sussex county Council approves changes to planning permission allowing for a drilling “zone of variation” within which the proposed lateral borehole can be drilled. Details
5 December 2016
UK Oil & Gas Investments plc announces it plans to drill Broadford Bridge in the first half of 2017. Details
14 September 2016
Keep Kirdford and Wisborough Green announces it is challenging the two-year extension by the Oil and Gas Authority of the first term of PEDL234, which includes Broadford Bridge. Details (The challenge was unsuccessful)
11 August 2016
UK Oil & Gas Investments plc announces it has acquired 100% of PEDL234 from Celtique Energie and Magellan Petroleum UK Ltd, including operation of the Wood Barn Farm site
30 June 2016
The Oil and Gas Authority extends for two years the initial term of PEDL234, which includes Broadford Bridge. Details
13 June 2016
UK Oil and Gas Investments plc announces it has acquired 100% of PEDL234, the licence including Broadford Bridge, from Celtique Energie and Magellan Petroleum UK Ltd. Details
April 2016
In an SEC filing, Magellan Petroleum says it is looking to sell its interests in teh Weald in southern England, including PEDL234, which covers Broadford Bridge. Details
15 May 2015
In a filing to the US SEC, Magellan Petroleum reveals details of the legal dispute with Celtique Energie over payments for drilling Broadford Bridge. Magellan confirms it is making a counter claim against Celtique. Details
26 February 2015
Celtique Energie issues a claim against Magellan Petroleum for £1.54m plus 5% interest in the High Court over payments for drilling Broadford Bridge. Details
22 December 2014
in a filing to the US SEC, Magellan Petroleum says the Broadford Bridge well will be drilled in spring 2015. Details
17 October 2014
Alleged Sunday working breach of planning conditions raised by Phil Donoughue, of Keep Kirdford and Wisborough Green, at a full meeting of West Sussex County Council. The company said it had not breached conditions, the council reported. Details
28 September 2014
Allegation that people were working at Broadford Bridge, in breach of planning conditions at the site. Details
16 September 2014
Date mentioned for the start of work at Broadford Bridge in planning statement for application WSCC/029/17/WC
15 September 2014
Celtique Energie announces it has begun work on the site at Broadford Bridge. Details
11 February 2013
Decision date for approval of planning application WSCC/052/12/WC for a deviated exploratory oil well at Broadford Bridge
DRILL OR DROP? 